Louis L. McAllister Photographs

Louis L. McAllister photographed people and places near
Burlington, Vermont for 60 years. He was born in Columbus, Nebraska on
October 16, 1876, the son of Julius S. McAllister (born 1841 in Lincoln, VT)
and Rosette Gould (born in Vermont in 1851). Julius McAllister worked as a
photographer and dentist in Washington D.C., Bristol, Vermont and Columbus,
Nebraska. Around 1895, Julius, his third wife Amy, and their children left
Nebraska for the Union Soldiers’ Colony in Fitzgerald, Georgia. By 1900,
Julius and Amy were divorced, and Amy and her stepson Louis were working as
photographers in Thomasville, Georgia.

In 1907 Louis McAllister married Cora Shepard (born about 1872
in Vermont) in Holland, Michigan. By 1910, they were living in Queen City
Park in South Burlington, Vermont, where Louis established a photography
studio. The McAllisters moved to Burlington, and by 1919 they lived at 47 N.
Winooski Avenue. They continued to occupy a summer cottage at Queen City
Park, and were active in the Queen City Park Association, which held
spiritualist camp meetings annually. McAllister conducted his photography
business from home until his death in 1963.

McAllister’s “trademark” was his panorama camera which made him
familiar to all sorts of groups ranging from graduating classes to state
police to summer camp groups. In addition he did print 8 x 10 photos, many
of which document building construction and Burlington Street Department
projects, as well as group and individual portraits.

The L.L. McAllister Collection includes portraits, construction
projects, buildings, businesses and events in the Burlington area covering
the period ca. 1920-1960. The collection also includes photos of street,
bridge, airport and sewer construction and repair, as well as group
portraits of clubs, schools, etc.

1945 portrait photo of a man standing next to a plaque on the grounds of the boys resident summer camp Abnaki in North Hero, Vermont. One of the main buildings seen in back along with a totem pole. Photo 8.

1949 photo of an older man in a business suit and hat putting a window in an opening of a building. Location may be (University of Vermont or Morgan?) horse barn. Overhead are horse identification signs. Legible are names Phyllis, Favorite Duke Dainty and UVM Royal Ida. See mcalB16F01i11 for another exposure.

1945 photo of a group of men and women ready to board a train. Most passengers have tags attached to their clothing. Train station very likely in Essex Junction, Vt. A few cars are parked on the left. A Western Union sign can be seen in the distance, left.

An older man and woman pose for a portrait photo outside 270 Pearl Street in Burlington, Vermont that has an enclosed porch. She sits in a wooden chair with armrests. He stands beside and slightly behind wearing a three piece suit and tie and may be longtime Burlington resident, Frederick A. Deyette. He is listed in the Burlington City Directory as residing at No. 270 from 1908 to 1946 or 1947. A wooden sign reading "Tourists" is seen at the corner of the building. See also mcalA15F02i20

The same five women and one man of mcalA15F01i15 with one other lady to the far left. The stand around the stone steps leading to a clapboard sided building. They are in dress clothes. Location and date unknown.

Two women and one man stand on the stone steps of the Wheeler House located in Burlington, Vermont now owned by the University of Vermont. The brick building has fluted columns and the number 133. Its official address is now 442 Main Street. The number 133 still appears over the door on its South Prospect Street side. Mrs. Jane Wheeler (wife of James R. Wheeler) is listed in the city directories as a resident here from 1925 to 1940. Photo date unknown. See another photo of the man in mcalA16F01i33

An older man and woman pose along with two other women and a man for a portrait photo outside 270 Pearl Street in Burlington, Vermont that has an enclosed porch. The man to the far right who wears a three piece suit and tie may be long time Burlington resident, Frederick A. Deyette. He is listed in the Burlington City Directory as residing at No. 270 from 1908 to 1946 or 1947. A wooden sign reading "Tourists" is seen at the corner of the building. See also mcalA15F01i07, mcalA15F02i23

An older man and woman along with a younger woman who sits in a chair pose for a portrait photo outside 270 Pearl Street in Burlington, Vermont that has an enclosed porch. Behind the man is a wooden sign reading "Tourists" at the corner of the building. See also mcalA15F01i07, mcalA15F02i20

A large group of diners gather at tables for a meal. The tables are arranged along the walls of a narrow multi-room area. It appears that folding doors separate the rooms. A head table is seen in the distance. See also mcalA15F04i16